Message from the Chairman and the Principal
Wednesday, 15th April, 2020
SCOTCH TEACHING, FEES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Dear Parents and Guadians,
In these challenging times it is deeply encouraging to see the whole Scotch community coming together to ensure that all our boys continue to benefit from the education the School can provide. The support of parents has been unstinting, and our members of staff are working with passion and enthusiasm to make sure that online teaching and learning is as effective as it can be. We all look forward with anticipation to the earliest possible return to on-campus teaching and a more familiar Scotch life.
As we live through the unprecedented events surrounding the global spread of the COVID-19 virus, we want to assure you of Scotch’s firm commitment to supporting your son’s education.
As you are already aware, teaching and learning operations have been transferred to our Learning Management System (Canvas) with content and support delivered primarily through the Canvas ‘Conference’ facility. In addition, the School has set up a zone on its webpage entitled ‘Keeping Scotch Connected’, to provide information and engagement for our boys and the Scotch Family, while ‘Scotch Streams’, inspired by the School Captain, provides boys with continuing contact with their broader Scotch lives.
The School is committed to continuing to maintain its high standards of education, through Canvas and the ready accessibility of our outstanding staff.
On-Campus supervision
The Commonwealth government has stated that it wishes independent schools to be open from the start of Term 2, so that students can continue with their education to the fullest extent possible. Scotch believes it should support this in the most responsible way it can.
From the start of Term 2 the campus will be open to all boys whose families, for any reason, feel they cannot provide at home appropriate conditions for online learning. Boys returning to campus will study online under teacher supervision, observing social distancing requirements as far as practicable.
Conscious of the particular challenges faced by boarding families, the School is working hard with the School doctor, Dr. Hurley, to plan for an early return of boys to the Hill, aware that such a return might initially need to be with a reduced number.
The School is conscious of the increased responsibilities being borne by families as a result of the social distancing rules now in force, and is keen to do all it can to assist. Parents support the School in so many ways, and for that we are immensely grateful. We see Scotch as a community, and keeping that community together, while ensuring that the School emerges from this crisis able to continue with the excellent education you expect, is guiding the measures set out in this letter.
Fees and Charges
Financially, the School is in a sound position, but Scotch must still meet its day to day operating expenses in order to maintain this strength, and enable it to continue to deliver an excellent education to its boys.
One impact of the pandemic has been that boarding, Cadets and other activities cannot be continued at this time. We recognise that these cancellations are significant for both boys and their families. Fees and charges for these activities will not, of course, be levied while such services and activities are suspended, and any pro-rata credit, where applicable, will appear on your April 2020 billing.
The School is being proactive in looking for cost savings during this time of restraint. As a result of changes to the School’s operations during this period, while the online environment imposes new costs, we estimate some savings will be achieved in the course of the School’s day school operations. The School, while bearing the overall increase in costs, including those relating to fee assistance, will return savings identified on day school operations to all full fee paying families by way of a credit against your April 2020 billing.
Fee Assistance
Not every Scotch family is being affected in the same way by this pandemic, and the School wishes to acknowledge this. As a School community, we believe it is both fair and responsible to focus our greatest support on those most in need in our Scotch Community. Where families are experiencing financial hardship, the School will make available from its own resources, fee assistance on a case by case basis, aimed at supporting such families over the coming months. For those families in such a situation please contact fee.assistance@scotch.vic.edu.au. The support of the Scotch family for the development of the School over many years is deeply valued, and in this difficult time, we want all families to know that the School will seek to support their efforts to maintain their link with the School.
As we look ahead to next year, there is, at the moment, considerable uncertainty about the state of the economy. We will be closely and continuously reviewing the wider financial and economic environment, and will take this into account in setting next year’s fees, which will be notified to parents as the situation clarifies.
This pandemic is not the first national crisis with which the Scotch Family has had to deal. From its foundation 169 year ago, the School has experienced several depressions, two World Wars, and the pandemics Spanish influenza and now Covid-19. In each crisis, Scotch values of personal responsibility, respect for others, and working together, have given our community the strength to meet all challenges.
On behalf of the Council and all staff of the College, we thank you for your continuing understanding and support, and wish you continuing good health and safety in the weeks and months ahead.
The Hon Dr David Kemp AC Mr I Tom Batty
Chairman Principal
Previous correspondence from the Principal on this issue is available on at the following link.
